51 Things That Will Make You Smile

Some days, it’s easy to smile. You wake up to the sounds of birds chirping, with the warm glow of the morning sun cradling your face. You take several deep, cleansing breaths standing beneath a perfectly cascading shower, just before drawing a smiley face on the steamed-up glass with your index finger.

Your roommate or significant other makes your coffee, just the way you like it. You hit every traffic light. You sing to your favorite tunes. And you arrive at work refreshed, excited, and anxious to create and collaborate.

But not every day starts this way. Sometimes you wake up to chaos, in your head or in the world around you. You hit snags, and bumps, and roadblocks at every turn. You try too hard, or don’t try enough, and things fall apart, or things fall short.

You struggle, you fight yourself and other people, and you find yourself wishing you could stop the world so you could get off for a while.

But there is an alternative. When things go wrong, you can fall down or look up. You can shut down or wake up, all over again, starting from right where you stand. You can accept that the days won’t always look bright, but commit to finding something worth smiling about. Not sure what that might be? No worries, friends! I have a few ideas….

1. Call a friend who knows how to laugh at herself to remember what it’s like not to take yourself too seriously.

2. Ask a friend to come over and make you smile. It’s really simple and obvious, I know, but sometimes we forget to just ask for what we need.

3. Read a letter, card, or email from someone who thought of you when you were going through a hard time.

4. Search your deleted email folder for “thank you.” You probably made a huge difference in someone’s life recently—remember that now!

5. Text a friend, “What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard today?”

6. Text your significant other with a silly picture of you and ask for one in return.

7. Askyour significant other to make you breakfast in bed—and to be creative with it. (I have no idea what that could mean, but just seeing the thought s/he puts into it will likely make it extra fun).

9. Tell a child in your life that you need a hug. Just try to stay stoic when she throws her little arms around your neck and sings “The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow.”

10. Alternatively, ask that child to draw a picture of you and him or her together.

11. Take a break to enjoy a simple pleasure that you often multitask—like a cup of flavored coffee, or a favorite snack.

12. Rearrange your furniture. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel a sense of accomplishment when I do this, and I also really enjoy the novelty of creating a space with a different feel.

13. Give your cat a ball of yarn or give your dog a wrapped gift and watch him try to open it. Pets playing = instant smile, at least, for me!

14. Go out and invest in a hula hoop. It’s nearly impossible to stay glum when you get moving like you haven’t since you were a kid. (Alternative option: jump around on a trampoline and just try to not smile!)

15. For the ladies: paint your toe nails a bright color that you wouldn’t usually pick.

16. Ask a child in your life to do your hair. Seeing yourself with massive 80s bangs (ladies) or a Mohawk-inspired look (men) is sure to get you laughing!

17. Blast your favorite music and dance around with absolutely no regard for rhythm or appearance.

18. Bake something that has a silly face on it. Really—this is a valid suggestion!

19. Eat food that requires you to use your hands, and get messy—and then really get messy. Get rib sauce all over your face and just go with it.

20. Make some type of arts and crafts project, just like you would have as a kid, with plans to give it to someone else. (Two-part smile: when you see the ridiculous thing you made, and when you see your friend’s face after receiving it).

21. Make a snack you loved as a kid. Maybe it’s peanut butter and banana sandwiches, or a sundae with gummy bears on it.

22. Watch a movie or cartoon from your childhood. (Smurfs always do it for me, especially when I remember how my mother called them devil worshipers because Papa Smurf did magic.)

23. Write a hand-written letter to someone you love, using different colored pens.

24. Look at pictures from your childhood. I can’t help but smile when I see the ridiculously thick bangs my mother gave me (translate: the front of a mullet).

25. Pop in the video/DVD from your child’s last recital—or your childhood recital.

26. Call your oldest friend, start a conversation with, “’Member when we…,” and end it with, “That was awesome, huh?”

27. Do an updated version of that awesome thing, right now. Really—grab your markers, or your bike, or your flashlight, or your video camera, and have a childlike adventure.

28. Make a magazine collage of things that always make you smile. Consider it a mini vision board for moments you’d like to create soon.

29.Dress up in clothes you love, just to run a simple errand. When you like how you look, you generally feel good.

30. Wear bright colored socks. If your pants are long, wear a different color on each foot. It’s like a little private joke that only you and your feet know about.

32. Make time to see the sunrise or sunset, and make it an occasion. Invite a friend and bring wine and a picnic basket. Make a memory, and make it beautiful.

33. Walk by your neighborhood park and soak in the innocence, excitement, and wonder.

34. Grab your camera and go outside with a mission to capture things that make you happy.

35. Make a list of all the amazing things you’ve accomplished and experienced this year, and then bask in the beauty of it all.

36. Tell someone how much they mean to you. Say all the things that might make you feel kind of vulnerable, and then think about how special you just made them feel.

37. Help a neighbor with something, whether it’s pulling weeds from a woman’s garden or running an errand for an elderly man who no longer drives. Two part happiness—forgetting about your own problems, and showing someone that neighborly kindness is not a thing of the past.

38. Ask a friend to tell you what’s new with his or her passion project. Same idea: forget about yourself for a while and watch someone else light up.

39. Commit a random act of kindness and tell that person to pass it on.

40. People-watch with a dialogue-writing slant. As in, find two people sitting across the street and make up a ridiculous conversation in your head that they could be having. I know, it sounds silly, and it is. But it always makes me laugh! (I got this from the movie Date Night, in case it sounds familiar.)

50. Make a new friend, in person or by commenting on a blog. Like this one. =)

51.And lastly…watch an uplifting video, like Tiny Buddha’s first YouTube video. I asked readers to submit footage of the things that make them smile, and the end result definitely put a smile on my face:

Thank you to everyone who contributed! I aimed to include all video footage (my apologies to anyone who sent in photo montages!) If I missed your name, or you’d like me to include a link, please send it to email(AT)tinybuddha(DOT)com.

Several of these suggestions made me smile, just by reading them! #17 is awesome… one of my favourite things I did on a recent trip to Seattle was have an impromptu dance session. My sister’s boyfriend and I performed for her and she was in tears several times. Great fun!

As for #36, I will take this oppourtunity to tell you how much I appreciate Tiny Buddha & the work you do to keep it going! I also appreciate your posts on Twitter & the quotes and support you frequently offer. So THANK YOU! I am really grateful for everything you do!

Several of these suggestions made me smile, just by reading them! #17 is awesome… one of my favourite things I did on a recent trip to Seattle was have an impromptu dance session. My sister’s boyfriend and I performed for her and she was in tears several times. Great fun!

As for #36, I will take this oppourtunity to tell you how much I appreciate Tiny Buddha & the work you do to keep it going! I also appreciate your posts on Twitter & the quotes and support you frequently offer. So THANK YOU! I am really grateful for everything you do!

I am sharing the link on my own website’s blog right now, so my readers can enjoy it as much as I have!

…I especially enjoyed numbers 18, 38, and 41 – just thinking about those ones, in particular, made me smile. (And the video too, I loved it – especially the word “past” in the sand being washed away by the ocean – fabulous!! Huge hugs to whoever submitted that bit!)

Andrea Sholer

Sooby08

Fantastic. However disappointed by some gender stereotyping on numbers 15 and 16, was it even necessary to mark it as male or female? I don’t think so.

Catherine Schuster

I just “StumbledUpone” this site and LOVE IT! Thank you sooooo much. The Smile List is perfect….going to print it out and keep it on the fridge.

Good point, Sooby! I originally had that as a tip for female readers, because I assumed men would be less likely to ask someone do their hair. Then I added the second part to be inclusive–however, I suspect you’re right. Women could also have fake mohawks, and men could also have 80s bangs.

Thank you. I shared to my facebook. I think I should print it out and post it on my bathroom mirror so I dont forget!

Nativeaustinite

Great list! Thanks for expanding my repertoire.
I also love to go somewhere that the customer service is always personal, and friendly. And thinking of how many wonders in the world (and beyond) there are yet to be discovered it’s a positive distraction, too.

Thank you so much for this. The video made me tear a little. Not been in the greatest shape emotionally & physically for the last few weeks, but I am extremely grateful to have stumbled on your site. So, THANK YOU, Lori Deschene!

Sandra Lowndes

Definitely, YES!!! I became more happy! Thank you a lot for this post, Lori and video too! ))

You’re most welcome, Sharon! I’m glad that Tiny Buddha has helped you work through a hard time. I’ve been there before, and I know it always helps me to remember I am not alone–we all deal with the same things. I hope you’re having a nice Sunday. =)

This is lovely, What makes me happy is making someone else happy, that’s why I am searching the Internet for things like this, and writing down things that make you smile, and why you should, I send my friend a nice email everyday so it adds a smile to her day.

DC Resident

I literally found this page by typing into google “things that make you happy” after having a genuinely miserable day. Your writing is light-hearted and entertaining, and it literally made the difference between me going on a 5 mile run instead of grabbing a couple of drinks. The run ended up motivating me to sign up for a marathon, so in a strange way I have to thank you for keeping my head up in a tough time. Thanks so much Lori!

I’m glad this post inspired you to get outside and get moving. How exciting that you’ve signed up for a marathon! Have a wonderful day =)

Alexandra Ritzel22

Another thing to smile:
Yesterday I found an interesting website to make people smile and to “improve the world”. And it seems to be successful! The idea is amazing…Have a look: http://www.just-smile.infoWatch the movies, the reactions of the people are really exciting!

I do this when I am sitting exams: draw smiley faces on my big toes so when I get stressed I know my toes are smiling back at me 🙂 it seems so silly but it makes me smile

Emma

Thank you so much i was very sad the last few weeks/days., and that made me smile. it is very nice that you like to help people and make them smile that is why even though i do not know you you are one of my heroes.
THANK YOU so much

Thanks so much Emma. I’m so glad this post and video cheered you up! =)

Loretta

I unexpectedly popped into this page this morning and I just couldn’t stop reading it.. I have had many of those ideas wondering inside of my mind and sometimes when I decide to do them others may just stare or say “What’s up with this girl?” but anyway… I guess each person has his or her very peculiar way in seeing things and all the things you had just written above are just out of this world… You had just made my day… THUMBS UP!!! and THANKS =)

Love your list!!! Something that always puts me in a good mood is reading positive posts/articles like this one! Also, listening to music while I dance and sing in my living room (lol), a good comedy movie, a good laugh and fun times with family/friends, nature walks, and pets!!! Thank you for your input Lori 🙂

After readin this all i could do was smile … I beleave life is hard if u make it hard n to shake away any negitive but i no wa it like when somethings are to hard to shake off … But i love what u r doing n just if this made 1 person smile thats brill but u made so many people smile i think u are brill i would love to make people smile everyday thank u for makeing me smile

This doesn’t sound idiotic at all. I’m so sorry to hear about your break-up–but glad this lifted your spirits a bit!

TJLeeWilliams

I don’t mean to be critical, but for some people the part about friends might make things worse, and for some people looking at photos of our childhoods might make things worse. A lot of us have lost people, and a lot of us who have serious days like this when we really need something to help us through it didn’t have very good childhoods. I thank you for the effort though. I can’t fault you for trying to make other peoples days better. Coming away from this list that’s the thought that made me smile. That there are people like you who not only care, but really try to help. But I’ve been working for NGO’s in Nigeria, and now Bangladesh for years, and going for a walk or buying a hula hoop just isn’t gonna cut it Lori.

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